Sydney Lokale’s strike sinks Bidco United as AFC Leopards return to winning ways

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Sydney Lokale’s strike sinks Bidco United as AFC Leopards return to winning ways

Joel Omotto 18:46 - 21.09.2024

New signing Sydney Lokale came off the bench to score the only goal as AFC Leopards ended Bidco United’s great run against them with a slim win in Thika.

Sydney Lokale came off the bench to hand AFC Leopards all three points as Ingwe returned to winning ways in the FKF Premier League on Saturday.

Leopards secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against a resolute Bidco United in Thika with new signing Lokale showing good centre forward play to break the deadlock 10 minutes from time.

Having come in in the 63rd minute for Victor Otieno, Lokale made a good run in the box and beat his maker to connect well with a delightful cross brought in from the left of Leopards attack by Ronald ‘Bebeto’ Sichenje.

The former Kariobangi Sharks man directed the ball in the net after meeting it in the box to break Bidco’s hearts after Anthony Akhulia’s men had made life tough for them.

It was the second goal for the striker in three games after opening his Ingwe account on matchday one when they thrashed Mathare United 4-0.

Crucially for Tomas Trucha and his team, it was a return to winning ways after last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Posta Rangers with the win seeing them move to second on the table on six points from three matches, one behind KCB before Sunday’s matches.

The first half of the contest witnessed few chances from either side but Rangers should have scored first the break when Brian Mboya missed a close-range header after a poor clearances from Lewis Bandi.

In the 53rd minute, Boniface Munyendo though he had opened the scoring for Leopards when Victor Omune found him following a swift counter attack but his shot was saved by the Bidco goalkeeper and two minutes before Lokale’s goal, Otieno had come close but saw his shot saved by a defender.